Immediate loading and immediate restoration in 105 expanded-platform implants via the Diem System after a 16-month follow-up period

Objective: The aim of this study was to report on our experience and outcomes with Certain Prevail Implants and immediate loading via the Diem System after a 16-month follow-up period. Materials and Methods: Over a 16- month period, 105 (14 maxilla, 91 mandible) expanded-platform implants were placed in 18 patients (15 females, 3 males; 55.97 ±7.25 SD years). Resonance frecuency analysis (RFA) was measured on the day of placement and at 3, 12 and 16 months. All prostheses were screw mounted on IOL DIEM standard abutments. The follow-up time varied between 3 up to 16 months. Results: One implant (0.9%) failed during final prothetic placement (3 months). The RFA (ISQ) measurements at 16 months evalution for 4 mm- and 5 mm diameter implants were: 76.13 ± 5.0 SD and 76 ±7.7 SD respectively. The RFA data related to mandible and maxilla, the day 0 mean was 76.47 ± 4.75 SD and 70.13 ± 1.35 SD, at 3 months 70.53 ± 4.0 SD and 66.07 ±2.9 SD, at 12 months 68.23± 3.6 SD and 66.40 ±2.7 SD and 16 months 68.23± 3.6 SD and 66.60 ± 2.5 SD respectively. The crestal bone resorption was 0.6 mm at 16 months in platform switching implants.Conclusions: The cumulative implant survival rate during the follow-up period was 99.1% Immediate loading on IOL Diem abutments is a reliable and effective technique for edentulous patients in the maxilla and mandible

Development of Robotized Laser Welding Applications for Joining Thin Sheets

Laser Welding (LW) is more often used in manufacturing due to its advantages, such as accurate control, good repeatability, less heat input, opportunities for joining of special materials, high speed, capability to join small dimension parts etc. LW is dedicated to robotized manufacturing, and the fabrication cells are using various level of flexibility, from specialized robots to very flexible setups. This paper features several LW applications using two industrially-scaled manufacturing cells at UPM Laser Centre (CLUPM) of Polytechnical University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). The one dedicated to Remote Laser Welding (RLW) of thin sheets for automotive and other sectors uses a CO2 laser of 3500 W. The second has a high flexibility, is based on a 6-axis ABB robot and a Nd:YAG laser of 3300 W, and is meant for various laser processing methods, including welding. After a short description of each cell, several LW applications experimented at CLUPM and recently implemented in industry are briefly presented: RLW of automotive coated sheets, LW of high strength automotive sheets, LW vs. laser hybrid welding (LHW) of Double Phase steel thin sheets, and LHW of thin sheets of stainless steel and carbon steel (dissimilar joints). The main technological issues overcame and the critical process parameters are pointed out. Conclusions about achievements and trends are provided

Problem-based learning versus lectures : comparison of academic results and time devoted by teachers in a course on Dentistry in Special Patients

Objectives: Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching-learning technique centred on the complete development of the student. It has been successfully implemented in several universities, notably in the health sciences. The process of creating the European Higher Education Area, initiated in Bologna, encourages European universities to use new methodologies in the teaching-learning process, including PBL. Our objectives were to analyze the results obtained by using PBL with fifth-year Dentistry students. Study design: Comparison of academic results between students receiving lectures and PBL participants, and assessment of differences between them in the time devoted to tasks by students and teachers. Results: PBL participants obtained higher grades compared to those receiving lectures only(p<0.05). The two student groups devoted the same amount of time to this subject but the time distribution of tasks was very different, with PBL students spending more time on group work and analysis of the literature. The teachers devoted much more time to the PBL group. Conclusions: PBL is a teaching-learning methodology that improves student academic results. PBL diverts student time to more complex tasks but requires a greater commitment from the teachers

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia : a proposal for diagnostic criteria

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a rare form of oral leukoplakia, which was first described in 1985 by Hansen et al. Since then, various published case series have presented PVL as a disease with aggressive biological behaviour due to its high probability of recurrence and a high rate of malignant transformation, usually higher than 70%. PVL is a long-term progressive condition, which is observed more frequently in women and elderly patients over 60 years at the time of diagnosis. Eventually, PVL tends to become multifocal with a progressive deterioration of the lesions, making it more and more difficult to control. Tobacco use does not seem to have a significant influence on the appearance or progression of PVL. These lesions may occur both in smokers and nonsmokers. Nevertheless, at present, the aetiology of PVL remains unclear as well as its management and diagnosis, which is still retrospective, late and poorly defined, lacking consensus criteria. Therefore, the aim of this study is to propose a set of diagnostic criteria to allow for the early and objective identification of PVL cases, and thereby conduct an adequate management. The proposal includes five major criteria and four minor criteria, as well as specific combinations among them in order to establish a correct and objective diagnosis of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia

Alpha lipoic acid efficacy in burning mouth syndrome: a controlled clinical trial

Background: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and determine the statistical significance of the outcome variables. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as an oral burning sensation in the absence of clinical signs which could justify the syndrome. Recent studies suggest the existence of neurological factors as a possible cause of the disease. Material and Methods: 60 patients with BMS, in two groups: case group with 600 mg/day and placebo as control group; with follow up of 2 months. Results: 64% of ALA patients reported some level of improvement, with a level of maintenance of 68.75% one month after treatment. 27.6% of the placebo group also demonstrated some reduction in BMS symptoms. Conclusions: Long-term evolution and the intensity of symptoms are variables that reduce the probability of improvement with ALA treatmen

Polymer-based micromotors fluorescence immunoassay for on the move sensitive procalcitonin determination in very low birth weight infants' plasma

A new fluorescence micromotor-based immunoassay (FMIm) has been developed forvprocalcitonin (PCT) determination as an early sepsis diagnostic analytical tool. The micromotorsvcombine the high binding capacity of the specific antibodies onto their polymeric polypyrrole outervlayer (PPy layer), with their magnetic guidance (Ni layer) and self-propulsion by catalytic generationvof oxygen bubbles (PtNP inner layer) to actively recognize the PCT antigen. This FMIm allowed avsensitive (LOD = 0.07 ng mL?1) and direct PCT determination in clinical samples from very lowbirth-vweight infants (VLBWI) with sepsis suspicion, using small volumes of sample (25 ?L) in a clinically relevant range of concentrations (0.5?150 ng mL?1). The good agreement between PCTvlevels obtained by our micromotor-based method and routine immunofluorescence hospitalvdetermination demonstrates the feasibility for the analysis in VLBWI samples and its potential as avpoint-of-care diagnostic tool for sepsis.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad); Comunidad de Madrid; La Caix

Toward early diagnosis of late-onset sepsis in preterm neonates: Dual magnetoimmunosensor for simultaneous procalcitonin and C-reactive protein determination in diagnosed clinical samples

Early diagnosis of sepsis, combining blood cultures and inflammation biomarkers, continues to be a challenge, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants because of limited availability of blood samples. Traditional diagnostic procedures are cumbersome, not fast enough, and require relatively large volumes of sample. Empiric use of antibiotics, before diagnostic confirmation, is required to decrease mortality, leading to potential antibiotic resistance and side effects in VLBW infants. To solve such a serious problem, a dual magnetoimmunosensor is proposed for simultaneous assessment of two of the most important sepsis biomarkers: procalcitonin (PCT for early phase) and Creactive protein (CRP for late phase). This ?sample-to-result? approach exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, precision, and stability using low sample volumes (<30 ?L) and under 20 min of total assay. The analytical usefulness of the approach was demonstrated by analyzing clinically relevant samples of preterm neonates with suspicion of sepsis.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad Autónoma de MadridFundación “La Caixa

Efectos del consumo de alcohol etílico en la cavidad oral: relación con el cáncer oral

El consumo de bebidas alcohólicas se encuentra asociado desde un punto de vista epidemiológico con un riesgo aumentado de desarrollar cáncer del tracto gastrointestinal superior. La realización de estudios que establezcan esa asociación resulta complicada, debido tanto a la confluencia de varios factores de riesgo en una misma persona, por ejemplo alcohol y tabaco, como a la falta de datos que puedan ser comprobables por el clínico. Por ello no se conoce con exactitud cual es el mecanismo patogénico responsable de este aumento de riesgo, ya que el etanol per se no ha demostrado ser carcinógeno. Se han propuesto distintas hipótesis que tratan de explicar como el etanol, ya sea por vía local o sistémica puede actuar como factor de riesgo en el desarrollo de un cáncer oral. Este trabajo supone una revisión de la situación actual de los potenciales mecanismos patogénicos, dividiéndolos en efectos locales y sistémicos. Dentro de los primeros se hace especial referencia a la alteración de la permeabilidad de la mucosa oral, a la acción del acetaldehído y al papel de los retinoidesIn an epidemiologic point of view the consumption of alcoholic beverages is found to be associated to an increased risk for developing an upper gastrointestinal tract cancer. The relation of the studies that establish this connection is complicated due to both the confluence of various risk factors within the same person such as alcohol and tobacco, and to the lack of data that can be verifiable by the clinician. For this reason the exact pathogenic mechanism responsible for this increase of risk is not known since ethanol per se was not confirmed to be carcinogenic. Different hypotheses have been proposed, explaining how ethanol, by oral or systemic route, can act as a risk factor for the development of oral cancer. This article serves as a review of the actual situation of the potential pathogenic mechanisms, dividing them in local and systemic effects. Within the aforementioned special reference is made on the alteration of the oral mucosa permeability, the action of acetaldehyde and the role of retinoids